The Finnish media are reporting that Kimi Räikkönen will be retiring from Formula One at the end this season in order to make way for Fernando Alonso at the Italian team. Paddock rumours have linked the 2007 World Champion with Brawn, although new suggestions point towards a career in rallying.

With Räikkönen having already competed in three rally events this year, latest speculation from the Veikkaaja newspaper of Finland suggests that the Ferrari driver, who turns 30 in October, will be hanging up his F1 helmet for good as Spain's Alonso moves to the Scuderia ahead of 2010.

The reports also explained that Kimi's final year of contract - including payments of an estimated €28m - at Ferrari would be paid for but blocking the driver from joining any other Formula One team in the process. Riku Kuvaja, an 'assistant' of Räikkönen, has allegedly denied Tuesday's hearsay.

Tbh I hope he retires, he's being outperformed and lacks motivation when someone faster and with far more enthusiasm could take over. Kimi's wasting a place in F1 that could go to someone who's actually motivated.

Well Kimi qualified 2nd in Monaco and came on the podium this year, so you can't say he's bad. In Silverstone he was unlucky. He qualified better than Massa, but because of that, he had less fuel in his car so Massa had a better strategy. In china kimi had problems with his engine, like last GP. How the hell did a stone get in there? If this rumor is true, I hope that Alonso replaces him. He's really good and I think that he will fit in well at Ferrari, also with the characteristics of the car, I think that fits Alonso better. Iceman, how do you know what Kimi talks about with his friends?

sejtur wrote:Well Kimi qualified 2nd in Monaco and came on the podium this year, so you can't say he's bad. In Silverstone he was unlucky. He qualified better than Massa, but because of that, he had less fuel in his car so Massa had a better strategy. In china kimi had problems with his engine, like last GP. How the hell did a stone get in there? If this rumor is true, I hope that Alonso replaces him. He's really good and I think that he will fit in well at Ferrari, also with the characteristics of the car, I think that fits Alonso better. Iceman, how do you know what Kimi talks about with his friends?

kimi's always unlucky..... 2007 was his luckiest year, esp. in the closing rounds.

For example, when I see Alonso driving on a "poor" renault, he looks like a good driver who want to overtake, to make the best times, to improve is car, ... . But, Kimi, in a equal car looks bad : he don't "search" to overtake, to improve his car (in february, in Bahrein, he said the Ferrari was very good, although the car wasn't great), ... .

I partially agree with you but everybody thinks Alonso is doing "bloody awesome in that dog" this because we consider teammates performance so... Even he is able to overtake only when car is "good" or that Renault gets in soft patch. I don't know if u were follow live timing ... Kimi was matching Massa in first stint.

Totopupu wrote:(in february, in Bahrein, he said the Ferrari was very good, although the car wasn't great)

This is misunderstanding both Massa and Kimi had on record said "Cars balance is good" .. but they lack pace & downforce.

Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings PEACE -Buddha
There is no point in defining a point... But there is a point in trying -Zack[Videos]